Definition

1. Noun:
   • (American football) The act of catching a football thrown by a member of the opposing team: This is a specific sports term where a defensive player catches a pass intended for an offensive player.
   • The act of stopping, seizing, or interrupting something or someone on its way from one place to another: This general meaning refers to preventing something from reaching its intended destination or recipient.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Sports):

  • The cornerback made a crucial interception in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.
  • His record for the most interceptions in a season still stands.

• Noun (General):

  • The interception of the smuggled goods occurred at the border.
  • Government agencies are involved in the interception of illegal communications.

Advanced Usage

• "electronic interception": The act of secretly capturing electronic communications, such as phone calls or data transmissions.

  • The court authorized the electronic interception of the suspect's emails.

• "missile interception": The act of destroying one missile in flight using another weapon system.

  • The new defense system is designed for missile interception.

Variants and Related Words

• Intercept (verb): To stop, seize, or interrupt something or someone on its way.
  • The police intercepted the stolen vehicle.
• Interceptor (noun): A person or thing that intercepts, especially a fast aircraft used to stop enemy aircraft.
  • The interceptor jets were scrambled to identify the unknown aircraft.

Synonyms

• Seizure: The act of taking something by force or legal authority.
• Blockage: The action of blocking or obstructing something.
• Confiscation: The action of taking or seizing someone's property with authority.

Related Phrases

• "pass interception": (Sports) Synonymous with an interception in American or Canadian football.
  • The linebacker's pass interception changed the momentum of the game.

Related Idioms

• "to cut off at the pass": This idiom, meaning to intercept or stop someone, is related to the general concept of interception.
  • We intercepted their plans; we cut them off at the pass.

Noun

1. (American football) the act of catching a football by a player on the opposing team
2. the act of intercepting; preventing something from proceeding or arriving
   • he resorted to the interception of his daughter's letters
   • he claimed that the interception of one missile by another would be impossible